Billing & Payment
Options to Fit Your Lifestyle
Elk River Municipal Utilities provides electric and water services to Elk River and electric service to parts of Otsego, Dayton, and Big Lake Township. We work hard to offer tools and resources that make managing your account quick and easy, including a variety of billing and payment options.
BILLING OPTIONS
We offer several ways you can receive your monthly bill.
Paper Billing
Receive your bill in the mail each month.
Paperless Billing
Sign up for
paperless billing to set preferences for notices and reminders, pay your bill online, and review current and past bills. It’s a fast, easy, and secure way to eliminate your paper bill.
Budget Billing
Enjoy greater predictability with ERMU’s Budget Billing program. This free service helps reduce seasonal fluctuations by averaging your past 12 months of energy usage into one consistent monthly payment making it easier to plan and manage your utility costs.
- Qualifications - To enroll, you must have lived at your current residence for at least one year and have a zero balance on your account. Missed or late payments after enrollment may result in removal from the program.
- How It Works - Each month, you pay a set amount based on your average energy usage over the previous 12 months. While Budget Billing does not reduce your overall energy costs, it spreads expenses evenly throughout the year for easier budgeting.
- Budget Recalculation - To provide a more accurate and consistent monthly payment, your Budget Billing amount will be recalculated two times per year. This allows ERMU to account for changes in household usage, preventing large credits or debits from accumulating.
- How to Enroll - To enroll in the Budget Billing program, contact our customer service department at
763.441.2020.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
ERMU offers a variety of ways to pay your bill. Choose the option that works best for you and your lifestyle.
- Online - Make one-time or recurring payments through SmartHub, our online account management and payment portal. There is no fee when you pay online through our website.
- By Phone - Call 1.855.939.3616 to make payments 24/7 with a debit or credit card or an electronic check through our automated payment line. There is no fee to pay by phone.
- By Mail - Send your payment, along with payment stub, to:
Elk River Municipal Utilities
P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330 - In Person - Make payments at our office. We're located at 13069 Orono Parkway next to City Hall.
- Drop Box - We offer three convenient drop box locations: outside our building entrance at 13069 Orono Parkway, outside our field services building at 1705 Main Street, or off Freeport Street near the post office.
- SmartHub's Auto Pay Program - Set up automatic payments using your preferred method (credit, debit, checking, or savings) while still being able to view your itemized bill. Learn more.
- Please note: For any services that have been disconnected for nonpayment, your payment must be received at our office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Friday before we will reconnect the service. We accept cash, money order, or credit card. Checks will not be accepted as a form of payment. No payments will be accepted in the field. We do not process reconnections weekdays after 3:30 p.m. or on weekends.
Contact us with questions or for more information about any of our payment options.
Understanding Your Bill
ERMU has designed your utility bill so that it’s easy to read and understand. The graphic below breaks down and explains the important information included in your bill.
Contact us if you have questions.
1. CONTACT INFORMATION
Information on when and how to contact our customer service department for questions about your bill.
2. ACCOUNT INFORMATION
- Account number – This is your ERMU account number. When you contact us, please provide this account number for faster service. You will also need this account number to set up an online account or make a one-time payment.
- Customer Name – The name of the individual or business responsible for the account.
- Billing Date – The date the bill is generated.
- Current Bill Due Date –
The date the current bill is due.
3. TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
The amount you must pay by the due date to avoid a penalty charge.
4. BILLING SUMMARY
Lists the amount of your previous bill, payments or adjustments applied to your account since your last billing statement, and any past due amount. Also listed are current ERMU charges and City charges if we bill on behalf of the city you reside in.
5. MESSAGES
Used to communicate important information pertaining to your service. Also includes time-relevant information about ERMU rebates and programs and available resources to help you manage your account.
6. COMPARISON GRAPHS
These graphs compare your electric and water usage, if applicable, for the current month, previous month, and same month from the previous year. Also included are the number of days in the billing period.
7. PAYMENT OPTIONS
These are the different options for paying your bill.
8. PAYMENT STUB
If paying by mail or drop box, return this portion of the bill along with your payment. Remit the total amount due listed on the payment stub. Payments received after the due date may be subject to a penalty charge.
9. SERVICE ADDRESS
The physical address where the electric and/or water service is provided. This address may be different than the mailing address listed on the payment stub.
10. ERMU SERVICES
Details your current electric and water meter readings, usage, taxes, and rates.
- Electric Customer Charge – A fixed charge for customers to have electric service, billed each month regardless of how much energy is used. It covers items like customer service, metering, billing, and electric infrastructure.
- Electric Usage – Determined by the amount of kilowatt-hours recorded on your meter for the service period. The difference between previous and current meter readings is used to determine this amount.
- Energy Charge – The charge for generating electricity and delivering it to your home or business. The total amount of energy (kWh) you use is multiplied by the charge for each kWh. The charge for each kWh could vary depending on your rate schedule.
- Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) – A charge that reflects changes in the actual cost of generating or purchasing electricity. These costs can fluctuate monthly due to factors like fuel prices, weather conditions, and market changes. If the actual costs are higher than expected, the PCA will result in an additional charge on your bill. If costs are lower, it may result in a credit.
- Clean Energy Choice – An optional monthly charge that allows residential customers to receive up to 100% of their electricity from renewable resources. Participants pay $1-$3 per month based on their chosen level of 50%, 75%, or 100%. Learn more.
- Water Customer Charge – A fixed charge for customers to have water service, billed each month regardless of how much water is used. It covers items like customer service, metering, billing, and water infrastructure.
- Water Usage – Determined by the number of units recorded on your meter for the service period. The difference between the previous and current meter readings is used to determine this amount. Each unit = 1,000 gallons.
- Water Charge – The charge for delivering safe, clean water to your home or business. The total amount of water units you use is multiplied by the charge for each unit. The charge for each unit could vary depending on where the quantity you use falls within our three-tiered rate schedule.
11. CITY SERVICES
Details your current city services and fees if applicable. As ERMU’s service territory includes the cities of Elk River, Otsego, Dayton, and parts Big Lake Township, we may bill for services and fees on their behalf, such as sewer, trash, franchise fees, stormwater fees, and sales tax.
12. BILLING PROCEDURES AND POLICIES
Details billing procedures and service policies relating to payments, disconnections, deposits, and fees.
